Reynolds High School 1994 graduate Emily Sherwood was the featured commencement speaker at Thursday's graduation ceremony at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland on June 12, 2014.

In a powerful eight minute speech, Sherwood encouraged the students as they move forward "to care and push enough to always risk failure" and make themselves and the world better. She ended the address with this statement: "Congratulations to the class of 2014. I am in awe of your strength, your resilience, your compassion and your success. Now go be better! Thank you."